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Alabama investigates possible misuse of public funds under former Madison County Commissioner (updated)

swearing in.JPG

Judge Alison Austin administers the oath of office to Dale Strong on the steps of the courthouse in downtown Huntsville on Nov 14, 2012. Strong said irregularities in the District 3 office were found a few weeks after the new commissioners were sworn in. (Eric Schultz / eschultz@al.com)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Tens of thousands of dollars in withdrawals from an unexplained
bank account have led to a year-long investigation into the Madison County
Commission, an investigation that just this week reached the Alabama Attorney
General.

The investigation centers on an employee within the District 3 office of retired Commissioner Jerry Craig of New Hope.

"We have investigated it thoroughly," said Jim Sumner of the
Alabama Ethics Commission this morning. "We considered it Wednesday, and we
referred it to the Alabama Attorney General."

Sumner said the case involved allegations of misuse or abuse
of diverted public funds by an employee, Kay Sims, in the District 3 office. Sumner said the
Ethics Commission received the case in January, that it involved tens of
thousands of dollars over a long period of time. "This was an extremely
complicated situation," said Sumner.

"Kay Sims spent almost a quarter century in service to Madison County and she deeply regrets her career ended this way," said Robert Patterson, attorney for Sims.

Patterson said they are working to resolve the situation in a way that is fair to all parties. "She and I are working with all authorities, especially the Attorney General," said Patterson late Friday.

Dale Strong, chairman of the Madison County Commission, said
an unexplained bank statement had arrived in the mail late last year, a few
weeks after the new commissioners took office. He said the statement showed
withdrawals from an account with a county tax identification number.

"The (county) commission was made aware of an irregularity
on Dec. 21," said Strong during an interview on Thursday. He said the account
was funded with checks for "private work," such as when county workers would
replace a pipe on private property.

Commissioner Eddie Sisk replaced Craig in 2012. "I found it and turned it over to them," said Sisk of the bank
statement.

Sisk said he contacted Strong with the information last
December, and that he couldn't comment beyond that.

Strong said he shared the findings with county attorney Jeff
Rich last winter. He said they quickly contacted Sheriff Blake Dorning, the
Examiners of Public Accounts and the Alabama Ethics Commission. He said the
Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Madison County District Attorney were
also aware.

"This thing has been bounced back and forth, back and
forth," said Strong.

Strong said he wasn't free to comment on the details of the case, but that the public would learn more when
the state examiners released the public audit.

Retired District 3 Commissioner Jerry Craig (Huntsville Times file)

Contacted this morning, Sandy Shirley in the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts referred calls to the Attorney General. She said she didn't know when
the public audit would be released.

Joy Patterson, spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General of Alabama, said late Friday that the office would have no comment.

Craig, a Democrat, did not seek re-election in 2012 after serving seven consecutive terms. As commissioner, Craig employed dozens of county
workers, maintained county roads and effectively served as the highest ranking
public official for the rural areas around New Hope and Gurley.

Craig was out of town today and could not be reached for
comment.

Updated at 3:05 p.m. with comments of Robert Patterson, the attorney for long-time District 3 employee Kay Sims.